DOWNTOWN AKRON — The Summa Health System Board of Directors has approved a letter of intent with Cincinnati-based Catholic Health Partners (CHP) to create a strategic partnership, pending final negotiations.

The decision comes following Summa’s announcement in July that it would seek a like-minded, larger nonprofit partner to enhance its strategic initiatives and strengthen its financial position in exchange for a minority interest in the organization in which Summa retains majority ownership and local control.

The decision to seek a potential partner is part of Summa’s three-year strategic planning process, which includes multiple initiatives to prepare the organization for a new era of health care, according to Summa officials. In addition, as Summa continues implementation of its Performance Improvement initiative to become more efficient throughout the organization, there are, officials said, clear synergies with CHP around the areas of care redesign, revenue cycle, supply chain and enhanced productivity that will help the system realize more efficiencies and value for the community.

Summa officials add that several strategic population health initiatives also are under way separately around which Summa and CHP share a common vision.

Summa and CHP already have worked together to expand the SummaCare Medicare Advantage product to new markets in 2012 for the 2013 coverage period.

Negotiations are scheduled for completion by mid-year.

Adaptive Living Partners assisting older adults

SOUTH AKRON — Adaptive Living Partners (ALP), located at 50 W. Wilbeth Road, is a division of F.C. Borisuk General Contractors Inc., an established home improvement company with more than 30 years of experience, according to company officials.

ALP focuses on serving the needs of older adults by eliminating hazards and removing the barriers so they can remain in their homes regardless of age or physical limitations, according to Fred Borisuk, president of ALP.

The business can replace an old tub with a shower, add grab bars to help make entering and exiting safer, and replace an old toilet with a taller, more comfortable one, according to company officials. It also can relocate a laundry from a basement to the first floor, widen doorways, add a first-floor master suite or add additional handrails to stairways, according to company officials.

“Our clients usually fall into one of three categories: They are returning home after a stay at a rehabilitation facility and need to make their home accessible and safe, have a chronic condition and wish to make their home more livable, or are simply planning for the future and realize that the home they have enjoyed for all these years isn’t designed for their future needs,” said Borisuk.

He added he is an Aging in Place specialist and leads a team that includes a registered nurse with more than 40 years of experience doing home assessments, a registered architect with a focus on green building and renewable design, an architect who uses a wheelchair and is an advocate for people with disabilities, a consultant who has developed more than 100 homes for adults with disabilities, and a licensed audiologist and advocate for Inductive Looping, an assistive hearing system for the hearing impaired. A specialist in wireless home monitoring systems also recently joined the team.

With the mission of helping individuals prepare for, find and retain employment, the nonprofit agency provided a variety of services to those looking for a new or better job, or the opportunity to advance toward gainful employment.

“We take pride in our commitment to help individuals prepare for, find and retain employment,” said Nan McClenaghan, Goodwill’s CEO and president.

The agency boasts an eight-year placement rate of 80 percent or better. Also, its 82 percent retention rate for 2012 means that most of the 328 individuals Goodwill placed into jobs in 2012 were still on the job after 90 days, and it is probable that their employment will continue, according to agency officials.

Goodwill’s impact on the local economy as the value of the first year’s wages of individuals placed was more than $9 million — dollars that purchased food and services and paid taxes in local communities, according to agency officials.

Goodwill’s business lines, which include its Contract Services and Retail Operations, are utilized as a training ground for many of the participants receiving services. More than 349 program participants worked within these business operations for a total of 132,153 hours.

Goodwill will formally present its service numbers with the release of its 2012 Annual Report at the agency’s Annual Meeting March 28 at Tangier, 532 W. Market St. Hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar and networking will begin at 5 p.m., followed by the program at 6 p.m. Tickets are $25 each ($5 donative value). Contact Beverly Sherrard at 330-724-6995, ext. 229l, or bsherrard@goodwillakron.org for tickets or more information. Reservations are requested by March 18.

A “Celebration of Champions” will be the focal point of the evening. The agency will honor successful program participants and recognize businesses across its service territory that have partnered with Goodwill to provide skills training opportunities, hired Goodwill graduates or used the agency’s services to help recruit qualified applicants.

Consisting mainly of battery jumps and lockouts, the more than 700 assists were provided free of charge. These services and others are part of the daily routine of the ambassadors, according to DAP officials.

The program began in January 2009 as a way to further DAP’s mission of promoting and building a vibrant and valuable downtown. There are two teams of ambassadors charged with varying responsibilities.

Safety ambassadors deter panhandling, provide escorts to and from businesses and report on potential and actual emergencies that require police, fire or EMS. They also work directly with downtown businesses to address safety and security concerns.

Cleaning ambassadors remove litter and graffiti and power wash sidewalks. They maintain downtown planters and hanging baskets and handle special projects as needed. In 2012, 42,714 pounds of litter were collected and nearly 1,200 calls for graffiti removal were fulfilled. Ambassadors provide the graffiti removal service free to downtown property and business owners, saving them $180,000 in commercial cleaning fees, according to DAP.